Label-feeding mechanism.



E. P. SHELDON, G. BRAND & F. MARCILE.

LABEL FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1909- RENEWED APR. 24,1915. 1,177,284. Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' :1 5 N E dwam/ She/don.

N Georg Bra/7d Felix Marci/e.

ATTORNEYS THE COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH 50., WASHINGTON, D. c.

E. P. SHELDON, G. BRAND & F. MARCILE.

LABEL FEEDING MECHANISM.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1909. RENEWED APR. 24, 1915. 1,177,284.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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naa nnzr onmon n'nw'AR n a. Sn-ninth, GEORGE BRA'N'I'D, ANU FEIJI' MARCILE, or Roberta, NEW

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' 1 meanness-rite Mechanism.

Siieeifica-tfon'ofLetters Patent; iat tQdlMaj-IQS,1916,

. Application filed March 9, 1909, SeriaLNo. 482;262. nene ean ri-l 24,1915. Serial no; 23 6 T zzlzwhom anag am-jam:

Be itimowfi theme, Esme) P. sesame, GEORGE BRA'XD, and FELIX MARoiLii, citizens of the United States, and. residents of Brooklymi'n the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Label-Feeding Mechanisms, of which the folloniing is 'a specification.

Our invention relates to means forsupplying labels one at time to proper position for aflixingto cbjects to be labeled in a label affixing machine. I 4

'ihe invention is particularly useful for supplying labels affixed as bands t'oj'ciga'rs by a banding machine of the general char: acter described in United States patent "to EdWar'dR'Shel'don, No. 981,017, dated January 10th, 1911. w

One part of our invention relates more particularly to the means for detaching or removing the labels one at a time from 'a'p'ile of labels siippo'rted ina suitable box and carrying them to feed rolls whereby they are passed sncc'essiv'ely to position Where, by the operation of a plun er and. other deor other objects;

vices, they are appliedor 'aiiiXed 'to the cigar Another portion jof'o iir inventio "consistsof means ivhereby'th'e feed of the labels may be automatically sto'p'pedin case of anyinterrupticn in the feed of the cigars 'or'other objects to position for application of the label's. In carrying One the first part bf o r nvention, we emplo a rotary suction pick-up 'WhiCh, by exhaust, detaches the outermostlabel of the pile byta-ki' g hold of the label at a point suliicieritly 'far removed from its end to cause said endto pfoject'tahgentially from the pick-up so that by them'dtionof the pick-up bodily to a pair of feed 'rolls said end may be introduced betweentli'e feed rolls and detached and moved 'alcng t'oxvard the. label aiiiking portion of the maehine.

This part of our invention "comprises also special means for rotatin'g 'the pick-up after it has taken hold of the label and for causing the pick-up todii'ell in position whet-e" it detaches or remoyes the label from the 'pile.

Another part of our intentionconsiste t a shield adapted to be ihseite'dbetiven the; pile of labels and ther'otary pick-tip fand controlled by the objects to be labeled as they move toward label position.

The invention consists also in the special combinations of devices and details ofconstruct on more particularly hereinafter descrlbed and then specifiedin the claims.

In describing the-invention it Will be as su'medpthat thearticles to be labeled are cigars fed to labeling position on a collaipsiprior application abovegreferred to. Inasmuch as the invention has to do partictrlarl-y with theportion of the apparatus" for feeding the bands or labels and is applicableto ble support or platform as described in the-- other machines for afiixing. the labels, the

drawings and specification have been con-c.

fined,- for the sake of brevity, to such ipor-,

ticn of the machine, and the other appliances forfeeding the cigars or other objects and for applying the band or label have been omitted. 7

Figure l is a plan of an apparatus embodyingflour invention; Fig. 2 isa side elevatirn o-f'the same. Figs. 3 and show the label moisten ng' devlce with a detaching V finger in twodifferent-pcsitirns. Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which the shield for holding the labels against removal -from= their p le maybe controlled by the feed of] the cigars [or other objects to'ivard'bandin'g or label affi ing position. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. "5.;

1 indlcat'es the framework of the machine broken away in a vertical line betwenthe V label feed and the portion which 'siipports. thedevlces for feeding the. cigars or other obj e'ct's to label affixing or banding 'posit ionj.g

upon the collapsible platform '55 or other,

jsuppo'rt as described in the prior applies;

tion he'reinbefore referred to. i

The mechanism shoivn may be amen from a Wheel 81 or otherdriving Wheel connected with or forming-a portion of are passed on by a pair of feedv rolls [at the .far'ther encl'of said plates 5 to' as'econd pair "of guide plates '6. They are dra'v'vn from the space.betweenthelatter pair of guide plates by means of a pair of feed rolls? [and forced. by "the latter through guide plates' S into position upon the 'collapsible scribed insu ch prior application, said 'yvhee] support 55. In this position they receive entl y described.

the cigar or other object to be labeled and are aflixed thereto by the operation of a suitable plunger and folding and pressing devices which act when the object with the label beneath it is forced down past plate 55, said devices operating in the manner described in the aforesaid application or in any other-suitableway. The forward end of the label which, in the present instance is supposed to have inclined sides is received between side guide plates 61 upon a support plate 60 and its forward motion is stopped y the abutment 62 which is engaged by the forward end of the label. Proper motion .is given to the various feed rolls through a tram of gears, geared up to .wheel 2, as

clearly shown, and which need not be described ln detall as 1ts construction and operation will be obvious to those skilled in;

the art.

The label holding box holding the pile of labels 3 is properly mounted .on a plate or frame 9 secured to the main frame of the machine. When the labels are detached one at a time from the pile as herein described,j

from beneath, said pile is supported at one end by a plate 10 whose'free end is pret'crably somewhat inclined downwardly to facilitate the movement of the label when it is detached or removed andslips down past the free edge of the plate 10. At its opposite end. the pile is supported by a plate 1]. normally projecting a slight distance beneath the edge of the'pile so as to allow the label to bend freely and clear-said support when it is drawn downward by the action of the pick-up device which detaches or removes the labels one at a time from the pile and which acts upon them as will be pres- The plate 11 also acts as a guard plate to prevent detachment of labels when the feed of cigars or other objects is interrupted from any cause, and for this purpose is adapted to be-reciprccated endwise beneath the pile of labels and to interthe action of the suction device 12 when. freed from the restrainlng influence of the cigars or other objects exerted onthe lever 13 through a connecting rod 16, as shown in Fig. tied to an arm'extending from a rock shaft 17. carrying fingers or arms 18 which lie in the path of the cigars or other objects 19 asthey are fedib'y the. i

band feed 20 toward position upon the plat-: I form 55. As shown insaid-Fig 5 when there is no int'erruption in the train 'of ei: 'gars orother objects the fingers '18 will be held downin position indicated in dotted lines and the shield 11 will be held against l the influence of the weight ll in the posi-;

tion shown in Fig. 2. In case there should? be a'cessation in the regular feed of'the ci-" gars 19, the arms orfingers 18 will be perk mitted to rise to the :position shown infull lines, and the weight llwill thereby be per,--

mitted to movev the shield 11 endwise beneath. the pile of bands 3 and prevent furtherdetaclnnent of the ,lalbels'by' the action 1 of the pick-up device. 7

Thepick-up device for removing or de taching the labels one ata time from. the pile operates by exhaust of air and suction applied through the medium of a tube 12, the mouth of which may be located in. the

periphery of a suitable wheel 21 mounted to rotate in suitablebearings on a reciprocaw. tory support .22 carried by rock shaftfl23. The shaft of wheel 21 is a hollow shaft :affording a passage which communicates-with the' exhaust tube 12on the one hand and on. the other communicates with a flexible tube- 2st applied tothe hollow end of the shaft,

as shown in the plan view, and connected. with a suitable exhaust pump. The support 22 1s reciprocated toward and away from the initial'pair of feed rolls i 4 by any proper device but ipreferably by means of pitman 25 connecting with a crank, pin on a wheel. of the label feed gear'or by similar mechanical -movement arranged to pass the dead center when the arm 22 and pick -up device are in position shown in full lines with the lllOlltllOfitllB suction tube against the surface of the. outermost label. of the pile. tion device is caused to dwell in position for detaching the label so as to insure'theaction thereof by'suction orexhaust on saidv label. Movement of the-pitman is commus nicated to the support 22 through; the arm 26 fastened to rock shaft23, and to further insure a dwell of the exhaust tube in posi- B'v these; means the suction shown in full lines. a lost motion is provided by eloneatingthe opening in the pitman where a pin projecting from the arm 26 engages'in said pitm n. Aspring 27' connects the arm. 26 and the pitman, as shown, while a stop 28 lim ts the rearward movement of the support '22 for the pickup device. As the crank moves in the di rectirn of the arrow toward position shown, to cause the arm 22. to recede, the latter first bringsup against the stop but owing to the lost motion of the, crankcan continue its movement 'and slide the pitman on. the pin without prcducing any movement of 1 the arm 22. Afterrpassingthe center, the i pitman follows up the crank under theac; tion of the spring 27' until it again engages the pin at the rc -Jerse end of the slot after which the arm 22 with the pick-up device begins its forward motion toward the position shown in dotted lines.

The label pick-up is caused .to rotate from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines as it moves forward toward the feed rolls 4 by any suitable means, as for instance, by rack 29 engaged by-a toothed wheel 30 on the shaft of wheel 21 or by other suitable means. Inasmuch as the suction device or tube 12 takes hold of the label at a point somewhat removed from the end it is obvious that the free, forward end of the latter will project tangentially from the wheel 21 and thereby be caused to enter between feed rolls 4 when the support 22 is moved over to the position shown in dctted lines and the wheel 21 is partially rotatated with the label clinging to its periphery. The rear end'of the label will wrap itself partially around the wheel andbeing detained or held between the pile of labels and the lip orplate 10 it will be finally drawn from beneath the pile and around the smooth periphery of the wheel 21 by the positive action of the feed rolls 4.

The moistening of the labels may be either a mcistening with a gum or moistening by a liquid such .as water applied to a previously dried and gummed surface. \Ve have shown appliances, however, particularly designed for moistening by water, the

label moistener being wetted periodically through the intervention of a wick which draws moisture from a tank 31 containing water. The moistener proper conslsts preferably of some absorbent substance 32 set in a periphery of one of the feed wheels 7.

Said wheel carries also a detaching finger 33 set preferably in the periphery of the wheel and acting to forcibly detach the label 34 from the moistener 82, so as to prevent sticking. The spring finger 33 is compressed between the two wheels 7 with the label 34 as the latter passes between said feed wheels, but as the free end of the tongue or finger passes the point of com.-..

pression it springs outwardly and detaches the mcistening end of the label, in obvious manner. Fig. 4 shows the moistener as engaging the label and the spring finger as about to enter between the feed rolls. Fig. 3 shows the position assumed by the finger after it has detached the label and which position it retains until the wheel has rotated in the direction of the arrow around to position shown in Fig. 4:.

The moistener 32 whether charged with water or with a gum is periodically wetted by a wetting device carried in a reciprocatory support 35 pivoted at 36 on the frame of themachine and operated by a cam 37 by suction on. the shaft of the, feed, drive. Said. cam engages, as shown 1n plan View, a roller 38-- carriedby a pivoted arm 39 attached to, the support 85, said arm beingsustained by a forkon thejcam. shaft, as better seen in the side view, Fig. 2. lVhen a liquid or other solvent fora previously gummed label is used the wetting device embodies a wick 40 and the support 35 is simply a wicktube whose .end is cut away to allow the wick to engage the moistener 32. wickis kept moistby the liquid drawn up through capillary action from the tank 31 and-the reciprocatingmovement of the tube 35 is related to the rotary movement of the moistener or coordinated so that when The end of the;

the mcistener is opposite the end of thewick 7 tube 35 it will be permitted by the cam 37 to fall against andwet the moistener 32. The forwardv movement of the tube is for this purpose secured bythe action of a suitable spring ll bearing on the wick tube andfastened to the framework, the rearward movement to carry the wick away from engagement with the periphery of the feed wheel 7 being produced by the cam acting in opposition to said spring. I

In order to permit the label box or holder to accommodate labels of different lengths and having inclined edges inclined at diiierent angles, the end plate 42 is provided with a slotted base 143 through which rises a pin carrying clamping nut 44. The two side plates a5 are similarly mounted and may obviously be adjusted to any required position with reference to the longitudinal axis of the label, so as to accommodate labels of different widths having edges differently in- ,clined to, said longitudinal axis.

The means herein described for moistening or gumming the labels andfeeding them to label affixing position in condition for being ailixed are not herein claimed, since they form the'subject of claims in our of the pile near its 'end, a pick-up device for detaching the outermost label from thepile anddrawing its end past the obstruction .s afforded by said plate when in normal position and means controlled by the articles to, be labeled in their progress toward labeling position for moving said plate to cause the same to cover the, portion of the outermost,

bination of a label holder carrying a pile.

of the labels, a plate partially engagingthe pile of labels at one end and mounted on a support by which it may be moved beneath the pile and prevent the removal of the labels, means for feeding the articles to labeling position, and means operated by the article-s to be labeled as they "travel toward labeling position for moving said plate as and for the purpose described.

.5. In a label-affixing machine, the combination substantially asdescribed, of a label support adapted to support the label in label-afiixing position, feed rolls for feeding the labels one at a time on to said support,

a label holder, a rotary suction pick-up wheel provided with an exhaust tube opening in the periphery of the wheel,'a reciprocating support carrying said wheel, whereby the same may be moved toward and from the feed rolls, and means for. rotating the same in its forward movement to present the free end of the label to the feed rolls.

6. In a label-affixing machine, the combi-' nation ofa label support adapted to support the label in label-affixing position, label feed rolls for feeding the labels successively on to said support, a label holder, a rotary suction pick-up wheel having an exhaust opening adapted to pickup a label. near one end, a reciprocating support for moving said wheel bodily to and away from the label feed rolls, and means for rotating the pickup wheel in its movement toward the'feed rolls, whereby the free end of the label may be presented between said wheels.

7. 'In'a label'aflixing machine, the combination of a support adapted to sustain. the labels one at a time in label-affixing position, a periodically operated feed mecha nism for feeding the labels one at a time to said support, a label holder, a rotary suction pick-up mounted on a reciprocatory support for detaching the labels one at a time from a pile thereof in the label holder and presenting a free end of the label -.to

feed rolls of the feed mechanism, and mechanism. for reciprocating said support arranged to pass its dead center when the pick-up is opposite the label, as and for the purpose described.

8. In. a label-afiixing machine, the -combi- 7 nation of means for supporting the label in label-affixing position, feed devices feeding the labels one at a time to said support, means for supporting the labels in a pile, a rotary exhaust tube mounted. on. a reciproeating support and adapted to detach the.

outermost label of the. pile by suction applied at a point. removed from the end of the label, feed rolls adapted to receive the freeend of the label while projected tan.- gentially from the pick-up, and a rack and pinion for rotating tl1e;pick-up as it is moved bodily toward the feed rolls.

9. In a label-affixing machine, the combination of means for supporting the labelv 1n.

lab'el-allixing position, means for feedinglabels one at a time onto said support, a label;

box orholder for holding a pile of labels, a

rotary suction pickI-up for detaching the labels one at a time from the pile, feed rolls for receiving the free end of the label pro-.

jected tangentially from the pickup and devices for reciprocating the pick-up bodilytoward and from the feed rolls, said devices having lost motion, as. described, whereby the pick-up is caused'to dwell in position for detaching the label.

10. In a label-atiixingmachine, the combination of means for supporting the label in t label-affixing position, means for feedingthe labels one at'a time on to said support in gummed conditiom'a label holder for holdmg a plle of labels superposed on one another, arotary suction pick-up, feed rolls for receiving the free end of the labeha crank and pitrnan for reciprocating the pick-up bodily toward and from the feed rolls and means for rotating the pick-up in its forward motion, as and for the purpose described.

11. In a label-affixing machine, the combination of means for supporting'the label in label-aflixing position, means for feeding the labels one at a time on to said support in gummed COIIClltlOIL=L label-hold ng box having a longitudinally adjustable end :plateand side plates, two on each side of the-label, whose distance and inclination to the longie tudinal axis of the label areadjustable, and. means for removing the'labels one at a time. from a pile held in said box and carrying.

them to the said feed mechanism.

Signed at New York in the county of New Yo k and State of- New York this 5th day of March, A. D. 1909.

Witnesses IRENE Lnrrzowrrz, EDWARD M. J ELLINEK.

'Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

Washington, D. G. 

